LESSON 8. The Great Korean Marathoners

 

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The Great Korean Marathoners

 

In the summer of 1992, people all over the world were watching TV. Their on the Barcelona Summer Olympics.

The highlight of the Olympics, the marathon race, was held on the last day. Everyone's eyes were glued to the TV. Marathoners from all over the world were competing. People were wondering who would win the race. Everybody was very excited.

On the screen they saw two Asian runners running far ahead of the others. One of them was wearing a shirt with a Japanese flag on it and the other a shirt with T'aegŭkki. The two runners were running side by side for quite a while.

When they had almost reached the stadium, one began to pull ahead of the other. That runner was Hwang Yŏng-jo. Waving both hands to the crowd, he ran into the stadium. He had beat the Japanese runner and won the gold medal. The people stood up shouting and clapping for the winner.

Koreans were very proud of their great athlete, Hwang, Yŏng-jo.

An old Korean gentleman was in the stadium watching that race. He saw Hwang Yŏng-jo run cross the finish line. He was so happy that tears of joy ran down his cheeks. The man was Son Ki-jŏng, winner of a gold medal at the Berlin Olympics in 1936.

He said to Mr. Hwang, "I knew you could do it! You have made my dream come true." Since 1936 Mr. Son has had only one wish. It was to see a Korean runner wearing T'aegŭkki win the marathon. The two men hugged each other and cried in happiness.

Hwang Yŏng-jo was born with natural talent. He has the body of a runner and his lungs can take in more oxygen than most people's. But this alone could not make him a champion. He also had to train hard.

Before the Olympics, the began training every morning at 6:00 and ran for many miles. He said, "The training was so hard that many times I thought I'd rather give up the marathon." And he continued, "In a marathon, endurance is the runner's most important quality."

His strong will and endurance made it possible for him to win that great race. And with his victory Hwang brought his country honor and glory.

 

 

Dialogue 1

상호와 마이크가 마라톤 경기를 보고 있다.

 

Sang-ho : Here comes the first runner!

Mike : He looks tired, doesn't he?

Sang-ho : Yes, but a marathoner has to keep going.

Mike : Well, I must be going now.

Sang-ho : So soon? Don't you want to see the end of the race?

Mike : I'm afraid I can't. I have to go to the dentist.

 

Dialogue 2

인숙이 테니스를 하다가 주저 앉았다.

 

Sang-ho : In-suk! What's the matter?

In-suk : I feel sick.

Sang-ho : Would you like something cold to drink?

In-suk : No, thanks. I'll be OK in a minute.

Sang-ho : You don't need to keep playing if you don't want to.

In-suk : I feel better. Let's finish the game.